community in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Alto, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in Wisconsin. Against other Wisconsin sites it stands out most in summer (92nd percentile) and lowest in spring (3rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (right here, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Alto?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Alto, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on May 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), peas, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, soybeans, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Soybeans: about 495 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi W, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 805 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms late Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 50 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi W, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Alto
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; North-Central Interior Freshwater Marsh.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.17 mi N; open water 0.17 mi N.
How Alto ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 22nd | 90th | 66th |
| Wisconsin | 82nd | 3rd | 92nd | 59th |
| Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains | 54th | 12th | 75th | 41st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Alto: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Waupun 4 mi · Brandon 5 mi · Fairwater 6 mi · Fox Lake 10 mi · Markesan 10 mi · Rosendale 11 mi
All towns in Wisconsin · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Alto (43.6676, -88.7924); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.